Inside Of The Tree Hideout

The inside the tree hideout was damp and the scent of unwashed bodies filled the space.

Dim torches flickered along the curved walls, casting eerie shadows as Damien and Lizella moved deeper into the structure.

The corridors were narrow, made from hollowed-out wood, branching in multiple directions like veins in a living organism.

Aquila remained outside, standing watch. If anyone returned, the griffin would make sure they never entered or better still, alerted anyone else.

Lizella walked slightly behind Damien, her eyes darting nervously around the unfamiliar space.

Unlike Damien, who moved with complete ease, she was tense, her hands clenching and unclenching as she stepped over wooden planks.

Damien, however, wasn't tense. He was… excited.

His steps were calm, deliberate. He wasn't just scouting—he was hunting.

The first guard appeared at the end of the hallway, his back turned. He never saw Damien coming.